Bishop Morlino warns dissenters to stop — or else

superamazingman · #1 Apr 28, '12, 7:45 pm

I'm proud to call this heroic man my bishop: threatening to put an interdict on a parish where they are backbiting and destroying the priests, simply because they are faithful priests.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/loc...a4bcf887a.html

superamazingman · #2 Apr 28, '12, 8:43 pm

Here's the actual letter from the Bishop. Don't take all your news from the news....

http://www.madisondiocese.org/LinkCl...id=37&mid=5357

YoungTradCath · #3 Apr 28, '12, 9:05 pm

I hope it doesn't rise to that level, but if it does, I hope that the good bishop decrees whatever sanctions he feels are necessary. I have been following this story via Fr. Z and others for a while now, and Bishop Morlino has been nothing but patient and, I have to say it, utterly pastoral about it. He has given the parishioners over a year and a half to sort this out, but people will still complain about being "unpastoral."

I have read the correspondence between the several parishioners and Bishop Morlino, which is freely available on the diocesan website, and it seems clear to me that this is mostly the rotten and deformed product of the last few decades' "Spirit of Vatican II" decadence. The bishop says plainly that he has received precisely zero substantiated claims of any breaches of not only the documents Vatican II, but the whole of Church teaching on the part of the priests. These men seem to be excellent priests, Catholic through and through, and I find it truly abhorrent that a portion of the parishioners feel it necessary to do what they are doing. Is there something wrong with priests trying to inject a bit of Catholic identity into parish life?

What makes me the angriest is that these parishioners have effectively destroyed their own parish school. That is truly reprehensible. As I see it, these are the results:

1) A good academic education has been sacrificed.
2) Even worse, the daily Catholic formation of many children has been thrown in the trash. Pray tell, where are these kids going to learn the faith? In public school? Hah.

Frankly, I think we will see more of this in the coming years. The Church seems to be rightly tightening up, and while in the end I think we will come out stronger and more triumphalistic than ever, there will be a good bit of pain along the way. This reminds me of the excommunications from Bishop Bruskewitz in the 90's.

Let us pray for the priests and parishioners of this parish. God bless Bishop Morlino for being a no-nonsense leader.

Jegudiel · #4 Apr 28, '12, 9:12 pm

It would be interesting to understand what changes have been made. While I don't condone the dissenters' actions it's very poor form to introduce change in a less than tactful manner that antagonizes others.

Let's say for example (and I have no idea if this was an issue or not) the priests only wanted male altar servers. OK, fine, that decision is well within their authority. But how was it implemented? Was it done in a aggressive, antagonistic, "We can do whatever we want!" manner or was it done with great love, tact and communication?

I cannot imagine for example a pastor speaking and writing about the need to do everything possible to faster vocations to the priesthood including choosing only males who might just have a vocation to serve Mass. Who would object to that? That's a world away from simply deleting people from the serving schedule.

Like · #5 Apr 28, '12, 9:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by superamazingman

Here's the actual letter from the Bishop. Don't take all your news from the news....

http://www.madisondiocese.org/LinkCl...id=37&mid=5357

Thank you for posting this letter from the bishop! Being retired law enforcement, I know how secular news agencies operate.

Also, in my parish, if that were to happen, I have no doubt a majority of parishioners would walk.

And believe our bishop would do just what Bishop Morlina did.

Bartolome Casas · #6 Apr 28, '12, 10:20 pm

I stay completely out of parish politics. Big waste of time. Who's right? Who's wrong. Hard to tell. I just don't associate with ANY of my fellow lay persons who are struggling to be a dominant person in the parish. I say: Let the deacons and priests run things. In extreme cases, a parish member can inform the bishop of something, but, then just let it be and move on.

Jegudiel · #7 Apr 28, '12, 10:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartolome Casas

I stay completely out of parish politics. Big waste of time. Who's right? Who's wrong. Hard to tell. I just don't associate with ANY of my fellow lay persons who are struggling to be a dominant person in the parish. I say: Let the deacons and priests run things. In extreme cases, a parish member can inform the bishop of something, but, then just let it be and move on.

In my parish these people tend to be very destructive (they drive people away from the parish) and almost exclusively female...

superamazingman · #8 Apr 29, '12, 11:47 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jegudiel

It would be interesting to understand what changes have been made. While I don't condone the dissenters' actions it's very poor form to introduce change in a less than tactful manner that antagonizes others.

Let's say for example (and I have no idea if this was an issue or not) the priests only wanted male altar servers. OK, fine, that decision is well within their authority. But how was it implemented? Was it done in a aggressive, antagonistic, "We can do whatever we want!" manner or was it done with great love, tact and communication?

I cannot imagine for example a pastor speaking and writing about the need to do everything possible to faster vocations to the priesthood including choosing only males who might just have a vocation to serve Mass. Who would object to that? That's a world away from simply deleting people from the serving schedule.

I can tell you first hand that they did it in a loving way. Even a woman who, from all external senses, seemed to hate these priests, she left a meeting with them commenting TO THE NEWS how friendly they are, and how she gets the sense that they really care for her. They are some of the best men in the world. Now if a diehard liberal came out of a meeting from them like that, you know they are a special breed of priests... they are truly amazing.

And they're creating tons of vocations already. I know at least 2-3 young men of the parish have already gone to their boarding school in spain, and plan to enter the order after finishing high school there. Seriously: 2-3 young men within a few years of arriving. That's amazing. And there's more in the works, I'd imagine.

superamazingman · #9 Apr 29, '12, 11:53 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoungTradCath

The bishop says plainly that he has received precisely zero substantiated claims of any breaches of not only the documents Vatican II, but the whole of Church teaching on the part of the priests. These men seem to be excellent priests, Catholic through and through, and I find it truly abhorrent that a portion of the parishioners feel it necessary to do what they are doing. Is there something wrong with priests trying to inject a bit of Catholic identity into parish life?

This is the biggest thing: They aren't some group of quiet schismatics who think vatican II is evil. Read the part from the bishop's letter with my underlining emphesis:

I repeatedly responded to these claims by asking for concrete examples to be given of any straying from the doctrine and discipline of the Church. It is my duty to ensure that the authentic teaching of the Church is handed on, and I stand ready to make corrections where needed. To this date, however, I’ve received no examples of teaching or practice contrary to the teachings of the Church. I have received examples of permissible differences in style, and, as I mentioned above, I’ve received examples of human errors, which resulted in relational hurts. I have every confidence that your priests continue to stand ready to resolve any personal issues you might have. But I’ve not received a single substantiated claim of false teaching or of a liturgical violation. I am still open to receiving claims of such correctable errors (with suitable reference to the proper documents).

The liberals are probably reading all the church documents (for the first time), just to find something to get these priests on... :d

wasserfall · #10 Apr 29, '12, 12:15 pm

Superamazingmom-- I'm sorry to hear that the school has to close. I made several small donations over the past couple of years even though I live... well a thousand miles away I'd guess.

Deo Gratias for Bishop Morlino in any case.

Cathryn · #11 Apr 29, '12, 1:02 pm

I am extremely happy that the Bishop is taking a stand for his good priests. Some Catholics are willing to crucify their priests to get their own way. Some parishioners use money to try to bring their pasters to their knees. Didn't work here. The parishioners don't run the parish. The Pastor is in charge, the parishioners need to accept this. I wish more Bishops would exercise their authority when the parishioners try to destroy the good name and reputation of the priests who shepherd over them.

mikelionheart · #12 Apr 29, '12, 1:21 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by superamazingman

I'm proud to call this heroic man my bishop: threatening to put an interdict on a parish where they are backbiting and destroying the priests, simply because they are faithful priests.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/loc...a4bcf887a.html

Reading that it sounds as if the priests have been incredibly arrogant in the actions when taking over a new church.

Priests should remember that they are our servants not our masters.

Cathryn · #13 Apr 29, '12, 1:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikelionheart

Reading that it sounds as if the priests have been incredibly arrogant in the actions when taking over a new church.

Priests should remember that they are our servants not our masters.

The servant is the master too_ like Jesus Christ. Priest role is to teach, to sanctify, and to govern, as a servant of the Lord. Same with the Bishop, and Holy Father. Think about why we call our pastor "Father". He has authority over his parish . Think of the Good Shepherd gospel__that is what the pastor is.

Quote:

The laity should, as all Christians, promptly accept in Christian obedience decisions of their spiritual
shepherds, since they are representatives of Christ as well as teachers and rulers in the Church. Let them
follow the example of Christ, who by His obedience even unto death, opened to all men the blessed way
of the liberty of the children of God. Nor should they omit to pray for those placed over them, for they
keep watch as having to render an account of their souls, so that they may do this with joy and not with
grief.

Tarpeian Rock · #14 Apr 29, '12, 4:52 pm

Surely there was more involved than refusing girl altar servers and ending the practice of EMHC's. Any other specifics?

Cathryn · #15 Apr 29, '12, 5:01 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoungTradCath

I have read the correspondence between the several parishioners and Bishop Morlino, which is freely available on the diocesan website, and it seems clear to me that this is mostly the rotten and deformed product of the last few decades' "Spirit of Vatican II" decadence. The bishop says plainly that he has received precisely zero substantiated claims of any breaches of not only the documents Vatican II, but the whole of Church teaching on the part of the priests. These men seem to be excellent priests, Catholic through and through, and I find it truly abhorrent that a portion of the parishioners feel it necessary to do what they are doing. Is there something wrong with priests trying to inject a bit of Catholic identity into parish life?

Can you tell us how to access the correspondence on the diocesan website? This is fascinating to me.